It is said to be a most haunted room and the scene of many deaths. The author, portrayed to excellence by john cusack, is selfassured, even a little. Jackson i just watched it again the other night and ive always enjoyed it. How does the movie make room 1408 seem scary before viewers even see the inside. Based on the short stephen king horror story of the same name, 1408 is about supernatural writer mike enslin, an author of two successful books on supernatural phenomena. Aug 30, 2017 lots of amazing books have been turned into movies, and lots of great movies started life as books, so now its time to decide, which is better for these stories, the books or the movies. The story this film was based on was almost never written,stephen king originally created the first few pages of 1408 for his nonfiction book, on writing, as an example of how to revise a first draft. The 1408 room was created as a set, and was not a real hotel room, allowing for more ease of access when filming. It is also a fine psychological horror movie and welcome change of pace from the ultra violent, gore polluted. Did the setting in the movie look like you had imagined it.
Movie whereas much of the short story takes place in the office of the hotel manager, olin, and after a short stint in the hotel room follows mike enslin throughout the aftermath of his experience, the core of the movie takes place in the room 1408. I thought this ending made more sense, because in the book. His young daughters death has left mike skeptical about the supernatural, even gods existence. How did 1408 become stephen kings most successful horror film. The ending of the movie was a little different than that of the book. Thus, 1408 has a strong slightly mitigated occult worldview with an openended theology, as well as many obscenities and profanities, and some gruesome violent images. He keeps an audio recorder that he had used throughout the movie and.
Maybe you only watched it because john cusack is the star and youve trusted his judgment in movies. Below, six reasons books almost always take the cake. The film touches on this slightly less than kings short story, however, lends itself to audiences. After a string of tedious haunted hotel visits and a mildly successful book about the same subject, enslin receives a provocative postcard from the dolphin hotel, a swanky joint in new york with an infamously creepy reputation. However, its not the scary movie some have lauded it as, in fact its more funhouse palaver than anything terrifying, but theres no doubting the intelligence and skill of the writing. The book itself is highly recommended, containing stories about the devil, to a story about pets given as presents, to haunted paintings, to crazy and demented maitre ds. For another, the vibrancy and leanness in visual storytelling has lent much to our necessarily windier, lusher written literature however, its also important to realize books vs. He writes cheesy, repetitive ghostly travel books 10 haunted hotels, 10 haunted lighthouses. And of course, movies bring the book to life, making you feel like youre actually part of the action. Does rmovies remember the underappreciated movie 1408. He also wanted to tell him that everythings alright, that hes talked to lilly and that hes working on a new book. It starts good, but around the middle of the film we understand that it. Filmmakers, consider this your cheat sheet for bringing book based movies more up to snuff.
He also writes frequently about what it feels like to write about scary things and places. And movies based on books can spark interest in the book its based on, making people want to read the book. The movie extended where the book ended, and the audience got to see older laura in present day clarissas life and they get to encounter lauras regret she felt for abandoning her family. While the movie, and the stephen king short story from which it was adapted are works of fiction, both. This weeks round of new movie release information contains release dates for 1408, illegal tender, mr. Do you think strong emotions can continue to occupy a place. I dont like the answer above me so i am just gonna tell you. By florencemcc tuesday, april 4, 2017 2 book vs movie adaptation, books, film, movies, short story permalink 0 maybe youve seen the movie 1408. After a series of torments, mike talks to a hotel operator from the phone in 1408 and asks why they dont just kill him and get it over with. The main character in the movie is mike enslin, played by john cusack imdb. The philosophical depths that horror can reach duration. Lots of amazing books have been turned into movies, and lots of great movies started life as books, so now it. In room 1408, he finds a bible and tosses it aside. The movie never brought up mitchs brother like they did in the book.
Mike enslin john cusack is a successful author who enjoys worldwide acclaim debunking supernatural phenomena before he checks into the dolphin hotel, that is. I love movies like this which are far and few between, so if any one knows anymore older ones or any like this please let me know 0 0 0. Its a slow week in terms of the creamofthecrop sites. Movie and book comparison essay examples essay example. It is directed by mikael hafstrom and stars john cusack, samuel l. John cusack plays mike enslin, a horror writer who writes phony books about haunted places. Aug 04, 2017 how did 1408 become stephen kings most successful horror film. After his latest book, he receives an anonymous postcard depicting the dolphin. It is the third tale in the audiobook collection blood and. It was because of the truth i found out behind the movie. Mike enslin played by john cusack, bestselling author of true ghost stories, decides to spend the night in new york citys mosthaunted hotel room, room 1408 at the dolphin hotel. With time, as the horrors mount, the writer looks to the word for comfort and discovers that all its pages are now blank. Apr 04, 2017 the movie also adds some grisly details to up the scare factor, like the sewing machine salesman who tried to sew himself together again after staying in the room. Based on a stephen king short story, starring john cusack and samuel l.
Ending spoiler for 1408 2007, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. A brilliantly acted, well developed version of kings short story, 1408 is a different type of horror movie, but in all the right ways. Financial analysis of 1408 2007 including budget, domestic and international box office gross, dvd and bluray sales reports, total earnings and profitability. Maybe you only watched it because john cusack is the star and youve trusted his judgment in movies ever since he held that stereo above his head and made your blackened teenage heart skip a beat. Take it at face value and its a normal ending with the main character getting out alive but his recorder happened to have caught the part where he spoke to his daughter in 1408 as the wife looks on in disbelief to unsettle the audience and give it an ominous feel as opposed to a cheezy happy ending it seemed to be headed for. How come people have the same movies with 2 different endings. The basic idea of horror writer who believes in nothing enters haunted hotel room is the same in both, but the details. The film is actually quite subtle in its way of creeping us out and disturbing us, which is a nice change of pace from the recent hostel. Writer mike enslin, an author of two hit books, focuses on supernatural phenomena. A man who specialises in debunking paranormal occurrences checks into the fabled room 1408 in the dolphin hotel. You do not have to read the original short story 1408, part of the longer anthology everythings eventual. As research for his latest book, enslin is determined to check out the notorious room 1408 in a new york city hotel by personally staying as a guest in the.
Reading about the 70 minutes mike enslin spends in room 1408 might not scare you. The story is based on a short story written by steven king and directed by mikael hafstrom. It stars john cusack as a supernatural investigator who rents room 1408 at the hotel dolphin in new york. Jackson, mary mccormack, tony shalhoub, len cariou, isiah whitlock, jr. The paranormal the real 1408 story the hotel del coronado. In 2002, 1408 was collected in written form as the 12th story in kings collection everythings eventual. Jackson, tries his best to dissuade enslin from staying in the room, warning him of the death of more than. Mike john cusack is depressed about what he does for a living. If youre more of a visual person, movies will stay with you more than words on a.
The movie also never answers mikes doubts about god, although at one point, like the soldier in the foxhole, mike appeals to god directly. The swedish film director mikael hafstrom developed a movie, 1408, based on the short story. The phone rings and the so called front desk asks him if he would like to re live the hour again or use their express checkout system which is a noose that keeps dropping whenever he enters a room. Oftentimes movies based on books leave out crucial plot points of the book because you cant make a five hour long movie.
In the movie, mike enslin john cusack says to his recorder, hotel rooms are just. Behind every good story lies, at the very least, a small amount of truth. Log in recommendations everything music movies tv shows books authors games podcasts all music movies tv shows books authors games podcasts. He keeps an audio recorder that he had used throughout the movie and instructs her to toss the rest. One of the best examples of this, early in the film, is a bookstore book signing, whose sparse attendance nevertheless includes a devoted. Several guests have met untimely demises during their stay in room 1408, due to natural and decidedly unnatural. If youre more of a visual person, movies will stay with you more than words on a page. Families can talk about the enduring appeal of ghost stories and haunted house tales. The two locations where this movie was filmed, for the most part, were california and new york, and each location came with a separate crew, after which, both crews were listed in the films end credits.
As research for his latest book, enslin is determined to check out the notorious room 1408 in a new york city hotel by personally staying as a guest in the fabled room. Even though the movie did a great job making the book come to life, the movie and book had a couple differences. Jacksons character is disappointingly underused, but fans of cusack, king and psychological horror will want to check out 1408 as much as mike does. It is the third tale in the audiobook collection blood and smoke, released in 1999. Watch 1408 starring john cusack in this horror on directv. What are your feelings about the main character in the book vs. Watching a movie after reading the book is a wonderful way to encourage students to think critically about how each medium presented roughly the same information. It would do the movie and yourself an injustice to try and tell you. It starts good, but around the middle of the film we understand that its all in the protagonist mike enslins good acting by john cusack imagination. If you like 1408 you might like similar movies the others, silent hill, the ring, dead silence, the uninvited. A horror films powerful and discontinued ending medium.
We follow mike enslin as he works his way closer and closer to the r. The swedish film director mikael hafstrom developed a movie, 1408, based on the short story, starring john cusack as michael enslin and samuel l. Some time later, enslin is seen writing a book, presumably about his deceased daughter when his wife asks if it would be okay to toss out a box of items from the hotel, as they all smell of smoke. What might you have changed in the movie if you were making it. But enslins phantomfree run of long and lonely nights is about to change forever when he checks into suite 1408 of the notorious dolphin hotel for his latest project. Did he she match what you imagined from reading the book. Cusack is magnificent, and considering about half the film is. So that while the movie 1408 follows horror writer mike enslins discovery of, and subsequent terrifying stay, within the dolphin hotels room 1408. Stephen king makes a good living writing about scary things and places. Jun 22, 2007 the ending was something i loved about the movie for its ambiguity. Movies of this ilk are abusive, demeaning, and unwatchable, and im dying for the current production cycle that grinds out this disgusting filth to end. Its undeniable that a book original usually blasts its movie version out of the water. In all honesty it kept me awake for 3 whole days, but that wasnt because of the movie.
For one thing, story structure has long been championed much more stridently by screenwriters than novelists. In 1984 there was a hotel in new york, the name of the hotel wasnt mentioned for it was a classified information. The two locations where this movie was filmed, for the most part, were california and new york, and each location came with a separate crew, after which, both. Can anyone explain the plot and ending of the movie 1408. Even though 1408 cant compete with the more than ingenious parent it still offers suspenseful entertainment for a movie night. How does mikes past become part of the rooms arsenal of disturbing imagery. The movie of 1408 i watched at the cinema has a different ending where the writer was rescued from that room by the firemen but on another dvd the guy was never able to leave the room. The mind is a curious, wonderful and troubling thing, and 1408 wants us to know it.
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